Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7), Kaylie Hunter [guided reading books TXT] 📗

room?” Nicholas asked as he climbed off my lap.

“Nope.” I climbed off the ground and offered a hand to help Wild Card. “Grady dumped me over the phone from halfway across the country. He’s in the dog house.”

Nicholas laughed before running toward the back door of Headquarters.

Wild Card stepped closer and kissed my cheek. “You amaze me.” He held my hand and led us back to the gym.

“I’m doing the right thing, aren’t I?”

“Yes,” he said, glancing over at me. “No matter how it ends, you and Nicholas deserve a face-to-face explanation from Grady. I also know from experience that Grady will regret today for the rest of his life.”

“It’s not the same as what happened to us,” I said, quietly.

“You sure about that?”

I thought about it a moment, but the truth was I wasn’t sure if it was the same or not, because I had no idea what was happening. “No. I’m not sure. That’s why I need to get his ass back here to explain.”

“Then fight for him, darlin’. Give it all you’ve got.”

~*~*~

While Nicholas and Wild Card handled moving Grady’s belongings, I made my way to the basement to find Carl. Trigger had texted me that he had left Carl in Benji’s care. I knew who Benji was, one of the guards at Aces, but I didn’t know him well enough to trust he’d keep a close enough eye on Carl.

I shouldn’t have worried. Carl stood near the safety mats, jumping up and down while he clapped and watched the men practice in the Circle of Hell. Carl was damn proud of his newest invention, and the guards loved it just as much. Willy kicked out, and the room filled with sympathetic groans as their mate fell to his knees cupping himself. Benji hit the stop button on the controls and two other guards ran over to help the younger guard out of the circle. He’d need an ice pack.

“Kelsey, Kelsey, Kelsey!” Carl yelled as he ran over and hugged me. “Is it time for lunch?”

“You ate seven pancakes and three eggs for breakfast. You’re hungry already?”

Carl smiled brightly, shifting his weight from one foot to another.

“Okay. Let’s see if there’s any food in the breakroom.”

As we started to make our way back to the stairs, Benji hollered at us and jogged over. “Trigger assigned Carl to me. Made me swear I’d watch him or reassign him formally to the next person.”

“Do I need to make a blood oath to take over protection duty?”

“Nah. Plain words will do just fine. Are you officially taking over or should I follow you guys?”

“I’ve got him. Thanks for being diligent, though.”

Benji nodded and offered a fist bump to Carl. “Later, bro.”

I started for the stairs again. “You made new friends today.”

“Benji’s fun. He’s going to teach me to skateboard.”

“You don’t own a skateboard.”

“I have enough money to buy one.”

“What about knee and elbow pads and a safety helmet?”

“I don’t have enough money for those. Maybe I can make them.”

“As long as you're safe,” I said, looping my arm through his at the top of the stairs and walking across the gym.

“Oh, good,” Hattie said, walking out of the breakroom. “You brought Carl. I was looking for him. Sandwiches and soup are ready.”

Carl turned into the breakroom without another word, his mind completely focused on the food.

Hattie grasped my elbow, steering me a few feet away from the doorway. “Pops said he’s flying back to Texas for the night to help you with a project. Now Wild Card and Nicholas are moving Grady’s belongings to the apartments.” Her forehead was pinched with worry as she watched me. “Is everything okay?”

“I honestly don’t know, but I have a plan.”

“You always do, dear, but I’m still worried about you.”

“I’m holding it together. I think it helps that Nicholas has to be my priority right now. My feelings are secondary to his.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

“Spread the word to the family that I’m okay, but I’m not ready to be bombarded with questions.”

“Understandable,” she said, nodding. “You’d best get something to eat. Do you know where Sara is?”

“She’s with Beth. Likely they’re in the classroom. If you can watch Carl, I’ll go get them.”

Carl walked out of the breakroom with a plate piled six sandwiches high.

“Mr. Carl…” Hattie started to say as I laughed and walked toward the stairs.

In the classroom I found Beth and Sara sweeping up the mess that Nicholas had made.

“I called the glass contractor to fix the window,” Beth said. “I’m sorry I didn’t stop him before he caused so much damage.”

“You did the right thing by getting yourself and Sara away.”

“Is Nicholas okay?” Sara asked.

“Yup,” I answered, sitting in her desk chair and pulling her in for a hug. “I’m sure he’ll talk to you when he’s ready. Everyone will need to be patient with him for a little while, though.”

“What happened?”

“Grady told him he wasn’t coming home.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, little bug. We’re going to find out, though, okay?”

She leaned into me, wrapping her arms around me.

I rubbed her back for a few minutes before kissing her forehead. “Enough sad stuff. I like it better when you’re all smiles,” I said, tickling her.

Sara giggled and squirmed out of my arms.

“Hattie brought lunch. You’d better get a plate before Carl eats it all.”

Sara giggled again. “He says he’s a growing boy.”

“If Carl is going through a growth spurt, we have a problem. He’s taller than most of us already.”

“He’s so skinny,” Beth said, leaning the broom in the corner. “Where does all that food go?”

“Have you ever seen Carl sit still for more than five minutes? I would love to have that